MarDon Fresh News – September 27, 2019

MarDon Fresh News – September 27, 2019

The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1030.84 feet – up 0.40 feet from one week ago. The water level is slowly creeping up – rising 1.07 feet over the past 17 days. The water temp continues to cool. The water temp in the sand dunes and on the main Reservoir is in the mid-60s. With the water level where it is -continue to use use extreme caution while boating between Goose Island and the face of the dam and the face of the sand dunes!

Now is the time to fish the Potholes Reservoir if you want to catch a mixed bag! The fishing for most all species in the Reservoir is from good to outstanding as the fish react to the changing of the season.

The bass fishing is extremely good now. The water level is pulling the bait and the fish from the sand dunes to the face of the dunes. Fish the face of the sand dunes with a ½ oz. football head jig coupled with a hula grub, Senkos, Strike King KVD 5XD crankbaits, and Zara Spooks. Fish from 2 to 20 feet. The Smallmouth bass are being found on the face of the dam and on the rock piles around Goose Island – as well as on the face of the sand dunes. Fish Booyah finesse jigs, Wacky Rigged Senkos, Crankbaits, Tubes and DS Minnows for the Smallmouth.

 The walleye fishing has improved over last week and is now at fair to good. The dropping water temps, cooler nights, and low water are putting the walleye into a positive feeding mode. Fish the face of the sand dunes in front of the West Arm and Crab Creek in 5-20 feet of water. Start by trolling a #5 or a #7 Flicker Shad at 1.5-2.0 miles per hour on a long line. If this does not produce – switch to trolling a Slow Death Hook and a 2 oz. bottom walker and ½ a crawler in 8-15 feet. Troll from .8-1.2 miles per hour. From now thru November – have a ½ oz. blade bait tied on to jig the 10-20-foot depth range.

For trout - fish Medicare Beach to the Mouth of Crab Creek and in front of the State Park. Troll Gibbs Wee G Spoons, Wicked Lures Trout Killers, Needlefish spoons, #7 Flicker Shads and Shad Raps at 2.5 -3.0 mph.  Use leaded line with 3-colors out or troll with a 2 oz. banana sinker. Set the drag light as the average trout is 2-5 pounds and can break the line on the initial strike.

The Channel Cat and Bullhead fishing is still very good. Use Catfish Magic Bait, Berkley Catfish Nuggets, and worms on the bottom for both. Fish up Lind Coulee, the mouth of Frenchman’s Wasteway and in the sand dunes for Channel Cats and Bullhead. 

Big Bluegill and big crappie continue to be caught on the face of the dunes and in the mouth of Crab Creek.  Troll #5 Flicker Shads to locate schools or use your electronics to find the schools and then anchor up and drop Bobby Garland Baby Shads and Trout Magnets to the fish. Perch are being caught in the mouth of Crab Creek and on the humps in front of the exposed dunes.

Call the MarDon Tackle Store for the latest fishing info at 509-346-2651.

Robin Beekman Johnson and Dave Moorehouse fished with Potholes Reservoir guide Nathan Lafrance for a nice catch of walleye and bluegill!

MarDon Fresh News – September 20, 2019

MarDon Fresh News – September 20, 2019

The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1030.44 feet – up 0.51 feet from one week ago. The water level is slowly creeping up.  The water temp is dropping with the cooler nights. The water temps in the sand dunes and on the main Reservoir are in the upper 60s to low 70s With the water level where it is -continue to use use extreme caution while boating between Goose Island and the face of the dam and the face of the sand dunes!

With the water temp dropping and the low water – now is the time to be fishing the Potholes Reservoir! The fishing for most all species in the Reservoir is from good to outstanding as they react to the changing of the season.

The bass fishing remains excellent!   Low water and falling water temps are spurring some awesome bass fishing.   Fish the face of the sand dunes with a ½ oz. football head jig coupled with a hula grub, Senkos, Strike King KVD 5XD crankbaits, and Zara Spooks. Fish from 2 to 20 feet. The Smallmouth bass are being found on the face of the dam and on the rock piles around Goose Island – as well as on the face of the sand dunes. Fish Booyah finesse jigs, Wacky Rigged Senkos, Crankbaits, Tubes and DS Minnows for the Smallmouth.

 The walleye fishing has improved over last week. The dropping water temps, cooler nights, and low water have kicked the walleye into a positive feeding mood.  Fish face of the sand dunes in front of the West Arm and Crab Creek in 5-20 feet of water. Start by trolling a #5 Fish Flicker Shad at 2.0-2.8 miles per hour on a long line. If this does not produce – switch to trolling a Slow Death Hook and a 2 oz. bottom walker and ½ a crawler in 8-15 feet. Troll from .8-1.2 miles per hour. From now thru November – have a ½ oz. blade bait tied on to jig the 10-20-foot depth range.

The trout fishing on the Potholes Reservoir is picking up with the cooler weather and cooling water temps. Fish Medicare Beach to the Mouth of Crab Creek and in front of the State Park. Troll Gibbs Wee G Spoons, Wicked Lures Trout Killers, Needlefish spoons, #7 Flicker Shads and Shad Raps at 2.5 -3.0 mph. Set the drag light as the average trout is 2-5 pounds and can break the line on the initial strike.

The Channel Cat and Bullhead fishing is extremely productive now. Use Catfish Magic Bait, Berkley Catfish Nuggets, and worms on the bottom for both. Fish up Lind Coulee, the mouth of Frenchman’s Wasteway and in the sand dunes for Channel Cats and Bullhead. 

Big Bluegill and big crappie continue to be caught on the face of the dunes and in the mouth of Crab Creek.  Troll #5 Flicker Shads to locate schools or use your electronics to find the schools and then anchor up and drop Bobby Garland Baby Shads and Trout Magnets to the fish. Perch are being caught in the mouth of Crab Creek and on the humps in front of the exposed dunes.

Call the MarDon Tackle Store for the latest fishing info at 509-346-2651.

Brodie Gleich of Yakima WA caught and released a nice Potholes Reservoir Largemouth Bass! Awesome to see the younger anglers getting hooked on fishing!

MarDon Fresh News – September 13, 2019

MarDon Fresh News – September 13, 2019 

The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1029.93 feet – up 0.37 feet from one week ago. The water level is fluctuating up and down constantly – within a 4-5” range – basically staying level this past week.  The water temp is dropping with the cooler nights. The water temps in the sand dunes and on the main Reservoir are in the low to mid 70s. 80s. With the water level where it is - use extreme caution while boating between Goose Island and the face of the dam and the face of the sand dunes!

With the water temp dropping and the low water – now is the time to be fishing the Potholes Reservoir! The fishing for most all species in the Reservoir is from good to outstanding as they react to the changing of the season.

The bass fishing continues to be excellent!   Low water and falling water temps are spurring some awesome bass fishing.   Fish the face of the sand dunes with a ½ oz. football head jig coupled with a hula grub, Senkos, Strike King KVD 5XD crankbaits, and Zara Spooks. Fish from 5 to 20 feet. The Smallmouth bass are being found on the face of the dam and on the rock piles around Goose Island – as well as on the face of the sand dunes. Fish Booyah finesse jigs, Wacky Rigged Senkos, Crankbaits, Tubes and DS Minnows for the Smallmouth.

 The walleye fishing has improved considerably this week with the dropping water temps, cooler nights, and low water. . Fish face of the sand dunes in front of the West Arm and Crab Creek in 6-20 feet of water.  Fish a Slow Death Hook and a 2 oz. bottom walker and ½ a crawler in 8-15 feet. Troll from .8-1.2 miles per hour. Troll a #5 Flicker Shad or Rapala Shad Rap in the channels and next to the weed beds at 1.5 – 2.5 miles per hour.  From now thru November – I would have a blade bait tied on to jig the 10-20-foot depth range.

Trout continue to be caught Medicare Beach to the Mouth of Crab Creek and in front of the State Park. Troll Gibbs Wee G Spoons, Wicked Lures Trout Killers, Needlefish spoons, #7 Flicker Shads and Shad Raps at 2.5 -3.0 mph. Set the drag light as the average trout is 2-5 pounds and can break the line on the initial strike.

The Channel Cat and Bullhead fishing is extremely productive now. Use Catfish Magic Bait, Berkley Catfish Nuggets, and worms on the bottom for both. Fish up Lind Coulee, the mouth of Frenchman’s Wasteway and in the sand dunes for Channel Cats and Bullhead. 

 Big Bluegill and big crappie are being caught on the face of the dunes and in the mouth of Crab Creek. Several reports of good crappie fishing in Lind Coulee have come in as well. Troll #5 Flicker Shads to locate schools or use your electronics to find the schools and then anchor up and drop Bobby Garland Baby Shads and Trout Magnets to the fish. Perch are being caught in the mouth of Crab Creek and on the humps in front of the exposed dunes.

Call the MarDon Tackle Store for the latest fishing info at 509-346-2651.

Upcoming Events:

September 13-15 - Marathon Dock Fishing Tournament and Potluck

September 14 – Old Farts Tournament

September 14 – Live Music with Paul Sweeney at the Beach House

Pat Sullivan - MarDon Resort monthly resident fished with local guide Shelby Ross shows a nice mixed bag of Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill, and Perch! Now is the time to get out and fish the Potholes Reservoir!

MarDon Fresh News – September 6, 2019

MarDon Fresh News – September 6, 2019 

The current water level on the Potholes Reservoir is 1029.55 feet – down 1.20 feet from one week ago. The water temps in the sand dunes and on the main Reservoir are in the upper 70s to low 80s. With the water level as low as it is - use extreme caution while boating between Goose Island and the face of the dam and the face of the sand dunes.

The bass fishing continues to be excellent!   The water continues to drop – pulling baitfish and the bass to the face of the dunes and onto the habitat boxes and humps.  Fish the sand dunes and Crab Creek with 3/8^th oz. swim jigs, Senkos, Strike King KVD 2.5 Square Bill crankbaits, and SPRO frogs. As the water continues to drop – the outer dunes and the face of the dunes will continue to improve. Reports of bigger bass are coming in - being caught on the face of the sand dunes in 15-25 feet of water. The Smallmouth bass are being found on the face of the dam and on the rock piles around Goose Island – as well as in the sand dunes.  Fish Booyah finesse jigs, Wacky Rigged Senkos, Crankbaits, Tubes and DS Minnows for the Smallmouth.

 A few more walleye are being caught. Like the bass fishing – as the water drops – both baitfish and the walleye will move out of the dunes to the face and onto the humps. Fish face of the sand dunes in front of the West Arm and Crab Creek in 6-20 feet of water.  Fish a Slow Death Hook and a 2 oz. bottom walker and ½ a crawler in 8-15 feet. Troll from .8-1.2 miles per hour. Troll a #5 Flicker Shad or Rapala Shad Rap in the channels and next to the weed beds at 1.5 – 2.5 miles per hour. 

 Several reports of good trout fishing came in this week from Medicare Beach to the Mouth of Crab Creek and in front of the State Park. Troll Gibbs Wee G Spoons, Wicked Lures Trout Killers, Needlefish spoons, #7 Flicker Shads and Shad Raps at 2.5 -3.0 mph. Set the drag light as the average trout is 2-5 pounds and can break the line on the initial strike.

The Channel Cat and Bullhead fishing continues to be extremely productive this week. Use Catfish Magic Bait, Berkley Catfish Nuggets, and worms on the bottom for both. Fish up Lind Coulee, the mouth of Frenchman’s Wasteway and in the sand dunes for Channel Cats and Bullhead. 

 Big Bluegill and big crappie are being caught on the face of the dunes and in the mouth of Crab Creek. Several reports of good crappie fishing in Lind Coulee have come in as well. Troll #5 Flicker Shads to locate schools or use your electronics to find the schools and drop Bobby Garland Baby Shads and Trout Magnets to the fish. Perch are being caught in the mouth of Crab Creek and on the humps in front of the exposed dunes.

Call the MarDon Tackle Store for the latest fishing info at 509-346-2651.

Upcoming Events:

September 13-15 - Marathon Dock Fishing Tournament and Potluck

September 14 – Old Farts Tournament

September 14 – Live Music with Paul Sweeney at the Beach House

 Debbie Daniels and Dave Meseberg show part of their Thursday Morning catch with a nice walleye and Smallmouth  bass - fishing the face of the Sand Dunes!